PITTSBURGH -- The Columbus Blue Jackets rushed defenseman Jack Johnson into a game before he had practiced with them, more than eager for their first initial look at the player who cost them high-priced forward Jeff Carter to acquire.

Their first impressions: Can't wait to see him again.

His first impression: Can't wait for the losing to stop.

The result was a familiar one for the Blue Jackets, who have 11 fewer points than any other NHL team – a 4-2 loss in Pittsburgh on Sunday in which they squandered a lead, some strong play and a Rick Nash goal that may possibly be his last with them.

KANATA, Ont. -- Ottawa general manager Bryan Murray was quietly looking for a goaltender before Craig Anderson lacerated his hand at home last Friday. Murray found one Sunday -- less than 24 hours before the NHL Trade Deadline -- in Ben Bishop, a minor-league prospect with the St. Louis Blues.

After trading a second-round pick in the 2013 NHL Draft to St. Louis for the services of Bishop, Murray reached an agreement with Bishop for a one-year, one-way extension for the 2012-13 season.

Anderson could be back next week, but his return date is not completely certain. Ottawa, in the midst of a battle for the Northeast Division title and an Eastern Conference playoff spot, needed immediate cover at the position

We are now less than 30 hours away from the NHL's Trade Deadline, and hockey's swapping season could get crazy in the next day. Here at NHL.com, we will bring you a daily roundup of reported rumors about who might be available and which teams might be looking to make a move for your lunchtime consumption in Deadline Diner.

VANCOUVER: The Canucks have been strangely quiet heading into the deadline, but that may all change as the action hurdles to the finish line Monday afternoon.

According to Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province, Vancouver could be one of several teams going big in the Steve Ott sweepstakes.

Ott, the 29-year-old Dallas Star forward, will be one of the most coveted assets if he is put on the market by the Stars, who are firmly in the Western Conference race, but may decide to sell and build assets for a shot at further stabilizing the franchise for a run at long-term success.

Ott has above average skill and a mean streak to go along with his playmaking ability. He is good in the faceoff circle (winning 57.3 percent of his draws), loves to hit and has no qualms with trying to intimidate an opponent.

RALEIGH -- Florida general manager Dale Tallon has found it tough to complete a trade in recent weeks, but he made one Saturday that he believes will make a difference: The Panthers acquired Wojtek Wolski from the New York Rangers in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2013 NHL Draft and minor-league defenseman Mike Vernace.

"There weren't many options, and this was an option we felt was an addition who has a chance to play here for many years if he has success over the last 23 games," Tallon said at the RBC Center, where the Panthers played the Carolina Panthers on Saturday night.

Their lineup included Wolski, who had not played in an NHL game since Jan. 15. He has missed much of the season with a groin injury and has had trouble cracking the lineup of the Rangers, the top team in the Eastern Conference.

The pair helped the Philadelphia Flyers reach Game 6 of the 2010 Stanley Cup Final. Never could either Richards or Carter ever have envisioned taking this circuitous route to being reunited in Los Angeles.

"We never probably thought this would happen again – especially this quick – but obviously we're both pleased with it," Carter said Saturday in his introductory media session before the Kings faced the Chicago Blackhawks at the Staples Center. "I think myself coming in to this team -- I told Mike when he got traded here that, 'You got a heck of a team. You got a chance to win here.' So I'm excited to be a part of it."

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Wolski has no goals and three assists in nine games for the Rangers this season. He was acquired from Phoenix in January 2011 and had six goals and 19 points in 37 games for the Rangers after the deal. He is in the final year of a two-year contract at $3.8 million per season.

While his offense has been non-existent this season, Wolski does have some offensive ability and has proven to be a streaky scorer. He is especially good in the shootout tiebreaker.

We are now less than a week away from the NHL's trade deadline, and hockey's swapping season could get crazy in the coming days. Here at NHL.com, we will bring you a daily roundup of reported rumors about who might be available and which teams might be looking to make a move for your lunchtime consumption in Deadline Diner.

CALGARY: One day after blasting his team during an intermission television interview, Flames GM Jay Feaster softened his stance a bit during a press conference. That doesn't mean he isn't still looking for deals to be made, though.

"I don't want to say we're buyers or sellers. We're looking at all of our options," Feaster told Randy Sportak of the Calgary Sun. "It's about improving our team both short-term and long-term. Right now, as I'm talking to other GMs, there are things we're talking about that wouldn't be just rentals. It wouldn't be guys coming in who are UFAs to the mix. It's guys with another year or so on the contract. If there are ways to do that, it's something we would look at.

"At the same time, if there are offers we feel are too good to pass up, and feel we have players in Abbotsford who are able to come in or guys we acquire are able to come in and help us be a playoff team, then -- with the exception of a handful of guys we're clearly not going to move -- we have to be willing to listen."

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In the end, Minnesota Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher was willing to let unhappy defenseman Marek Zidlicky go somewhere else -- but not without getting a solid return.

Zidlicky and Wild coach Mike Yeo haven't been happy with each other -- and on Friday, Zidlicky waived his no-trade clause to go to New Jersey, where the Devils need a puck-moving defenseman. But the Devils paid a price, sending defenseman Kurtis Foster, 22-year-old forward Nick Palmieri and forward Stephane Veilleux to the Wild. Minnesota will also receive Washington's second-round pick in the 2012 NHL Draft, which the Devils acquired last year, and will get a third-rounder in 2013 if the Devils make this year's Eastern Conference Finals and Zidlicky plays at least 75 percent of New Jersey's games in the first two rounds.

NEWARK, N.J. -- New Jersey Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello believes he has found a defenseman who can help his power play and provide some veteran leadership down the stretch -- and perhaps beyond if his club qualifies for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

That blueliner is 35-year-old Marek Zidlicky, who on Friday was acquired from the Minnesota Wild for three players and draft picks after Zidlicky waived his no-trade clause. The deal was announced by Lamoriello during the second intermission of Friday's 2-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks at Prudential Center.

"We had an opportunity to get an experienced right-shot, puck-moving, defenseman who can also quarterback the power-play and has a lot of experience," Lamoriello said. "In my opinion, we had a chance to get someone who was better-suited to playing 5-on-5, move the puck out of the zone and jump in on offense with the type of forwards we have."

The Wild will receive defenseman Kurtis Foster, forwards Nick Palmieri and Stephane Veilleux, as well as a second-round pick in 2012 that the Devils previously acquired from Washington and a conditional third-round pick in the 2013 NHL Draft. The Wild will get that pick if the Devils make the Eastern Conference Finals this spring and Zidlicky plays in 75 percent of New Jersey's games in the first two rounds.

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I don't have a crystal ball. Predicting is a real complicated thing. If we stay healthy, have enough depth and get the good goaltending we think we're going to have, you can go all the way. But a lot of things have to happen. There's going to be a lot of teams that think the same thing. Everyone made deals. We're all are optimistic about where we'll end up.

— Rangers general manager Glen Sather after being asked if he's constructed a team that can win the Stanley Cup before their 4-1 win against the Predators on Monday